A 19-year-old Louisiana State University soccer player has shared her battle with Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma, initially mistaking her chronic fatigue for poor conditioning. Freshman goalkeeper Rylie Kuyper told People magazine that she thought she was simply unfit and needed to train harder. The Lady Tigers player discovered a small lump on her breast in December, but it was not until March 12, when she found another on her neck, that she sought medical attention.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors initially believed the neck lump was a swollen lymph node and the breast lump was fibrosis. However, Kuyper was quickly scheduled for a needle biopsy and CT scan, despite an upcoming conditioning test. Known as the beep test, this mandatory examination for healthy players is modified for injured teammates. Kuyper realized something was wrong when she was allowed to skip the test and was urgently scheduled for scans. A hospital technician's bewilderment at her scans further heightened her anxiety.
After returning to practice, an athletic trainer and two doctors informed Kuyper that the mass in her chest was likely lymphoma. She broke down in the arms of coach Sian Hudson and later with teammate Amy Smith. Kuyper called her parents that night and has since documented her cancer treatment on TikTok.
Support from the LSU Community
Kuyper's TikTok videos range from lighthearted to heartfelt. One video, captioned 'Family meeting cus I just got diagnosed with cancer,' shows her dancing in LSU gear and garnered 31 million views. Others express gratitude for the support from soccer players, coaches, and trainers who have embraced her despite being a freshman transfer. 'My athletic trainer, Miss Hannah Faldetta, she's been with me at every appointment,' Kuyper said tearfully. 'She sacrificed time away from her family to be here with me.'
Kuyper's roommate even bought tickets to see country singer Bailey Zimmerman. She will need four months of Nivo-AVD chemotherapy and three weeks of radiation for her specific lymphoma. Kuyper approaches treatment like a sporting event, emphasizing the importance of mindset: 'I think something as simple as showing up on days you don't feel like it, pushing yourself even when you didn't sleep well — that mindset matters.'
LSU finished last season 15-6-4, losing to SEC-rival Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 16. The Lady Tigers' 2026 season begins in August.
